Chain or belt on the e-bike: which is better?

Have you noticed that too? More and more modern e-bikes and bicycles are using belt drives. The belt has tangible advantages. It is clean, never needs to be oiled and is virtually maintenance-free. Completely in contrast to the chain. But is that true?

Contents

1. Do you even notice a difference when driving?

2. The belt is cleaner than the chain and requires less maintenance

3. Belts are more durable than chains

4. A belt costs more than a bicycle chain

5. The crucial question: Is the chain more efficient?

6. Conclusion

In any case, the question of which drive concept is better is not easy to answer. Sometimes the discussion about this becomes emotional. “Chain vs. belt” has the same “get-in-the-hair” potential as the question of whether Google’s Android or Apple’s iOS is the better operating system.

Manufacturers like the Berlin company Lemmo offer the same bike with either a belt or chain for a reason. We used the Lemmo One (for the test report) with a chain drive for a while and a belt drive for a while and will explain – very objectively – the advantages and disadvantages of each concept. We also rely on the fact check from the Bicycle Press Service on this topic.

Do you even notice a difference when driving?

There are driving dynamics differences between an e-bike or bicycle with a chain drive and one with a belt drive. However, in direct comparison these are rather small. When we compare the two Lemmo bikes, another circumstance comes into play.

Since Lemmo, like many other e-bike manufacturers, also installs a hub motor in the rear wheel, there is no longer any space for a hub gear. The belt drive version is equipped with only one gear, while the chain version has 10 gears.

The belt is cleaner than the chain and requires less maintenance

This advantage of the belt over the chain cannot be denied. At the next opportunity, grab a bike strap when you see a bike parked on the side of the road. Don’t worry, your hands are guaranteed to remain oil and grease-free. If it gets dirty, a targeted jet of water is enough to remove dirt.

This is different with the chain. In order to last for a long time, it needs to be cleaned and oiled, i.e. cared for. In harsh conditions, such as in winter when there is salt on the roads and cycle paths, even after every ride. We find the belt drive particularly practical on folding bikes, because when handling the folding mechanism there is guaranteed to be contact with the chain or belt. It’s nice if your clothes and hands stay clean.

Belts are more durable than chains

Basically, you can say that a chain should or must be changed after a mileage of around 10,000 kilometers. This statement is based on both experience and the manufacturer’s information. But the 10,000 kilometers are to be understood as the optimum under good to very good conditions.

Because only very few cyclists or e-bikers clean, oil and care for their chain meticulously. If a gear system with many gears and a front derailleur is added, the chain sometimes runs at an angle, which in turn increases wear and reduces life expectancy.

A belt has a significantly longer life expectancy. The bicycle press service states as a rule of thumb that a belt lasts about three times as long as a chain. But here too there are exceptions, for example if the belt does not run exactly in the so-called belt line. This is what experts call the correct escape.

A belt costs more than a bicycle chain

If you look around in the spare parts store, a belt costs at least 50 euros. The well-known Gates carbon belts can easily cost a hundred euros or more. The classic bicycle chain, on the other hand, is available at prices from ten euros and up. However, one cannot generally speak of the “cheap chain” and the “expensive belt”.

On the one hand, with chain drives there are additional costs for oils, maintenance and increased wear. On the other hand, bicycles and e-bikes with a belt drive are more expensive to purchase because the drive has to be taken into account when planning the frame. The bottom line is that when it comes to cost, there is no clear winner between belt and chain.

The crucial question: Is the chain more efficient?

Anyone who is about to buy a new e-bike or bicycle with gears and has beads of sweat on their forehead just thinking about inclines should choose a chain and derailleur gears.

In combination, the efficiency, provided the chain has been well cared for and well oiled, is higher than with a belt, which can only be installed in conjunction with a hub or gear system. With a chain drive, more of the footwork you do can be converted into propulsion because the friction losses are lower.

But you shouldn’t worry too much about the issue of efficiency. In everyday life, it depends more on your personal preferences. If you’re more of a maintenance person, then the belt drive offers you tangible advantages. If you don’t have a problem with the occasional cleaning and oiling of the chain, you may be able to save money and travel a bit more efficiently.

Anyone who rides a supporting Pedelec doesn’t have to worry much about the efficiency of the drive anyway, as the motor compensates for the higher friction if in doubt. However, chains are usually a little easier to get as a spare part.

Conclusion

There is no “better” drive. It’s a question of taste whether you choose a belt drive or a chain drive and it depends on the bike you want.

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